Ethnic / Immigrant Associations and Minorities' / Immigrants' Voluntary Participation

This article reviews the literature on ethnic/immigrant associations and minorities' or immigrants' voluntary participation in major developed countries that have experienced a significant increase of immigrants, particularly after the 1990s. In terms of ethnic/immigrant associations, the author reviews the historical background of research in this area, the size and scope, the formation and development, the memberships, and the financial well-being of these associations, the roles they play in helping immigrants acculturate into the host countries, and the classification of ethnic/immigrant associations. The author also reviews the literature that examines the factors influencing minorities' and immigrants' voluntary participation, their formal and informal volunteering, as well we immigrant youth's voluntary participation.